Weighing scale



Aug. 23.1927. 11,640,073

c. H. HAPGOOD WEIGHING scALE Filed sept. `15. 1924 s sheets-sheet 1 g 7 c. H. HAPGOOD Y WEIGHINGfSGALE v Filed sept, 1s.l 1924 l s sheen-sheet 2 ation@ mit Ii l) Patented Aug. 23, 1927.

STATES PATENT OFFIQE..

CLARENCEI-I. HAIPGOOD, OETOLEDO, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO TOLEDO SCALE COMPANY, OF TOLEDO,OIIIO, A COBJPORATION'OF NEW JERSEY;

WEIGHING SCALE.

Application led ent-einher kThis invention relates to Weighing scales, and more particularly to means for returning the load-counterbalancing and indicat-A ingmechanism of automatic scales to Zero position Without removing the load 'from the scale. such as dairies, receipts ot commodities'rrom many persons are depositedin the same commodity receptacle or tank and it is desirable that means be provided to indicate instantly the Weight ot the individual deposits and .to indicate when desired the i accumulated Weight in the receptacle. lninany manufacturing establishments it is desirable to Weigh individually ingredients as tliey'are added toa compound, and it is desirable,

Wiere possible, to avoid Weighing such ingredients in separa-te receptacles.

lt is one oit the principal objects ot this invention to provide a scale which ivhile under load ivill automatically indicateindividual-` ly. the Weights of additional loads placed upon it and will also when desired'indicate the total iveight'on ythe scale.

Another object is the provision oi' an auton matic scale having' novel means -ioi returning counterbalencina` and indicating` mechanismV may be returnedi'o Zero positionivhile the scale is under load by counterbalancing the load by means of a iiovving counterbalance',. the i'loiv ot which is automatically cut oit at the proper time to bring the indicatingv mechanisni to zero position.

thervobJects and advantages Will be apparent trom the following description7 in` which reference is had'to the accompanying.

lraivinasA illusti'ating` a` preferred embodiiit or my invention and wherein similar sin throughout the several vieivs.

ln vthe drawings Figuie lis an elevational :vieiv of a. scale:

In y many commerci al establishments,

reference numerals designate similar parts 133. 1924:. Serial No. 737,568.

Figure ll is an enlargedvieiv or" the fluid cut-oli' operating mechanismforming` apart oitA my invention;

Figure lll is atop plan vie-W of the mechanism slioivn in Figure Il;

Figure lV is an enlarged elevational view from the rear side ot the iuid cut-oit' operating' mechanism;

F igure V. is awtog plan view ot the luid container; or receptacle;

Figure VI. is a transverse sectional` elevationalvieiv through the luid receptacle;

Figure Vll is enlarged view of a.- s'iviteh and supporting frame forming one element ot my invention; and

Figure Vlllis a diagrammatic `vieu/"fot the `Wiring system employed.

Referring to the drawings, l have shown my invention as incorporated in aiiveighing scale oi' the portable type, but it is to be understood that my invention is applicable to other types of scales. As the scale illustrated isnot per se the subject of this application. l will describe it only in such detail asivil-l suitice for a clear understanding of the. application of my invention thereto. lie scaleproper consists of a base l adapted to house and support lever" mechanism (not shown), andV mounted upon the `rear. thereotl is afcolumn 8 surmounted by' a Watch-caseshaped housing fi. The scale base is provided ivitli a plurality of Wheels 2 so that it may be easily moved about. l

The lever mechanism in the base supports a platform 5 ivliicliin turn supports atank orcontaiuer 6 yadapted to receive liquid or granulated material to be weighed@ The platform levi1 mechanism. is connected by means of a .link (not shown) to an intermecli-atey lever which in turn is connected by means ot a rod lei to the load-couiiterbalancing' mechanism. This mechanism consists substantially of penijlulunis l5 provided with tulcium sectors l@ ivliicli are suspended from a trame vvl? by means of flexible metallic ribbons 18. The penduluins are also provided. with power sectors 19 and the poivei' sectors are connected by means of ribbons 2() to a yolre 2l linedto the upper extremity of the rod lll. The pendulum mechanism is suitably connected by means ofraclt .and pinion mechanism (noty shown), to an indicator hand QQWhich co-operates With a graduated chart 23 to indicate tlieiveiglit of a load in the .container 6. The load-counterbalancllO ing mechanism illustrated and briefly ei:- plained herein is more particularly described and claimed in my Patent No. 1,203,611, issued November 7, 1916.

It Will be apparent from the foregoing); iat a load placed in the container o exerts a downward force upon the rod 'le and the ribbons 20, causing the pendulums to swing outwardly and upwardly to ofl'set the loa( on the platform. is the lever l0 is also connected to the Weighing mechanism, it is caused to oscillate in a counter-clockwise direction whenever a load is placed in the container 6.

The re-setting device for returning the pendulums and indicating hand to zero or initial position after the completion of a weighing will now be described. The lever lO is provided with a bracket having a pivot from which is suspended a container or receptacle 27, the loiver extremity thereof being substantially funnel-shaped to provide a` restricted outlet from said receptacle. Undue oscillation of the receptable is prevented by means of a check link 28., and lines joining the pivotal points of the link 2S, the fulcruin of the lever l() and the point from which the container is suspended form a parallelogram, thus maintaining the container in a vertical position throughout Weighing movements.

Obviously, if fluid or other material be ntroduced into the container 27 after a load has been placed upon the platform, the effect will be to counter-balance the Weight of the load to return the pendulums and the indicating hand to Zero position. To insure an accurate return of the indicating hand to Zero position, it is necessary that the flow of the counterbalancing fluid into the receptacle 27 be cut off at the proper moment.

'lne fluid cut-off mechanism is supported upon a bracket 30 fiXed to the column 3 of the scale, and consist-s substantially of a frame formed of a pair of metal strips or bars 3l and 3l fixedly connected by a pair of plates 32 and 33 and secured to the bracket 30 by means of screws 34e. The fluid, preferably water, is stored in a supply tank or reservoir having an inlet pipe 36 and an outlet 37, the latter branching, as at 8S, into smaller outlet tubes 39 and el() preferably fabricated of rubber or other flexible material for a purpose hereinafter explained. These tubes pass through apertures in the metal strips and terminate at a. point justabove the receptable 27.

In a great many establishments Where such a scale is used, especially in dairies, time is an importantfaetor in Weighing' in. It is, therefore, necessary that the pendulums and indicating hand be returned to zero position as rapidly and accurately as possible. To attain the desired results I have constructed the tubes of different diameters.

rvEhe tube Lvl0, being of larger diameter, per mits a comparatively large quantity of Water to enter the receptacle, but the flow of liipiid through this tube must be cut ofl' before the indicator reaches ay Zero position, the flow of liquid through the smaller tube 5E) being out oil' at precisely the time to cause the indicator to stop in Zero position. The valve or means for shutting olf the flow of liquid through the tube Li-O comprises a. member s2 adapted to slide longitudinally upon a horizontal portion of the metal strip 5l, one end of which is so formed as to ennge the tube Llll, tue other end being provided vfith a block lf3. il trigger lil acting under the influeiice. of a spring -ltends` o a projection Llf3 of the block el?) and privent the engagement of the member i9 ivith the flexible tube ell). The sliding member Ll2 is resiliently retained under the influence of the contractile springs in en- L gement with the tube Ll() until the operator of the scale the handle A/l-,S fixed to a bracket forn'iing a part of the inember and moros said sliding member longitudinally te a position where the trigger if engages the projection on the block hus preventing a ber.

The. operator moves the slide member an( aersociated mechanism after he has recorded the weight of the load upon the platforn'i. which movement disengages the member Llf2 from the tube and permits fluid to flor-r into the receptacle I?. material is intrcs'lu-ced into the receptacle the latter is moved downwardly and the lower extremity of the rod 26 connecting the bail of the receptacle to the bracket Q5 engages .vit-h a finger 32 f. lined a vertically movable shaft 5? slidab-ly received in openings in a bracket 5l. fixed to the metal strip in enlarged portion of the shaft 53 is provided iv th a laterally projecting pin 56 Which is loosely received in a slot "i the end of a lever pivoted 'to a proie .lion on the bracket 5ft. The other end of the lever is normally in juxtaposition to a collar 58 lined on a plunger Si) slidablj.'v positioned in openings in a bracket G0 and member 3l. l'lilhen enough fluid has been introduced into the receptacle 2'? to bring the indicator almost to a Zero position, the finger 52, l effing been moved do\.\,'n\vardly by the rod 243 to a point sufficient to cause the end of the lever 57 to engage the collar 5S, moves the plunger 59 upwardly to engage the trigger stil, tripping same, and permitting the sliding,r member to be impinged against the enterior Walls of the flexible tube l0, thus cutting' off the flor: of fluid into the receptacle 2T through the tube lO, the position and relation of the parts being` shown in Figure ll. l

rlhe mechanism for cutting off the fluid non me if? l),

retraction of said menilll() vwhich is provided adjacent its Vperiphery supply from the tube 39 will now be described. The frame member 3l supports a slidable member 62 similar to the memberL is adaptedto automatically engage azraised portion 67 on the slidable membery 62, thus restraining said member from retrograde movement. As the arm i9 is moved by the operator, an insulating block 5l fiiredtotlie member 62 engages a flexible metallic strip 69 and effects closing of the contact points 70 of a switch connected in series with a solenoid coil S. Fixed upon the rear end of the shaft upon which the indicator hand 22 is mounted is a disk 7 2 (see Figure VH) with a pin 7 3 n rmally contacting with an arm 74 of a ,switch and holds `thewcontact points 7 5 in engagement.

Vhen the indicator hand reaches Zero, the pin `73 engages the arm 74 to close the contact points .75, and, as the contact points 7 O have been previously closed bymovement of the arm 49, the circuit through the solenoid S is complete. Vlien the coilS has been energized by means of the current from vthe battery B the armature 76 is caused to move upwardly and a pin 77 on the armature engages the bight of a'loopl 78 fixedtothe trigger 66 and releases the latter, the contractile springs 8O simultaneously moving the sliding member 62 into engagement with the flexible tube 3-9to c ut off the ingress ot fluid intothe receptacle 27. l

' rlhe solenoid S is immediately deenergized as the insulating block 5l has moved away from engagement `with the flexible stripyt), thus opening the circuit at the contact points 70, and the indicatorrfbeingat zero the scale is'now in condition to weigh additional loads. The weight of each successive load may be noted and recoigded as it is weighed and the fluid counterbalancing mechanism employed after each weighing to return the load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism to Zero or initial position. i

The tank 6 soon becomes filled with milk or other material, and, as it is usually desirable to have a record of the total weight of, milk, I have provid-ceda means for emptying the receptacle 27, comprising a valve ball 81 normally adapted to close the opening 82 in said receptacle, which is providedwith a rod 83, the upper extremity being bent at right angles to the major portionfthereof. By grasping thevbeiit portion of the rod S3 and partially rotating and elevating the rod 83, the valve ball 8l is moved away from its seat and the liquid is permitted to flow away through a waste pipe 85 and the indicator hand moves to a .position indicating the total weight in the tank 6. A stop 86 is provided toprevent the return ofthe rod 83 to its normal position, and an. expansive spring 87 exerting a force against the collar 88 tends to keep the valve ball 8l in its seat when the rod 83 has been kmoved away from the stop 86.

ln using the scale for compounding', the first ingredient is poured into the receptacle in suflicientquantities to .bring the indicator Vhand tothe position .indicating the proper weight of that ingredient. rllie indicator hand is then returned to zero position andy the iiextlingredient similarly added, etc., the hand being returned to Zero afterthe addi tion of each ingredient.` When the batch is rcomplete the total weight may be readily ascertained.

rlhe embodiment of my invention herein shown and described is to be regarded as illustrative only, and it is to be understood that the invention is susceptible to variation, modilicaticn and change within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

Having described my invention, l claim: l. In a device of the class described, in combination, automatic load-counterbalancing mechanism, indicating mechanism con- V.nected thereto, aliuent load counterbalance, kand means for applying said fluent .co-unterbaiance in .substitution for said automatic load-counterb'alancing mechanism.

2'. in a deviceof the class describen, in

combination, automatic loadfcounterbalancing, mechanism, indicating mechanism connected thereto, a fluent load counterbalance,

vmeans for applying said fluent countei balance in substitution `for said automatic load-counterbalancing mechanism and thereby causing said indicatingmechanism to appreach Zero position, and means for. cuttingoil said fluent counterbalance at the proper time-to bring said indicating mechanism to Zero position.

3. ln adevice of the class described, in combination, automatic load-counterbnlancing mechanism, indicating mechanism connecte'dv thereto, a fluent load counterbalaiice, means for applying said fluent counterbalance in substitution for said rautomatic load counterbalancing mechanism, means for restricting the flow of said fluent counterbalance as said indicating` mechanism approaches Zero position, and .means for cuttin oil the llowof said fiuent counter-balance at the propertime. to bring `said indicating mechanism to zero position.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, weighing mechanism including automatic loacl-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism, fluid counterbalancing means for re-setting said load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism to an initial position, and means for activating said fluid means after the completion of a weighing.

5. In a device of' the class described, in combination, a container for receiving articles to be weighed, automatic load-counterbalancing` mechanism, and fluid counter-balancing means for ire-setting the load-counterbalancingmechanism to an initial position after successive weighings.

6. ln a device of the class described, in combination, weighing mechanism including automatic loacl-counterbalancing mechanism, and fluid counterbalancing means 'for re-setting said load-counterbalancing mechanism to an initial position after the completion of a weighing.

7. In a weighing scale, in combination, a commodity-receiver for receiving articles to be weighed, automatic means for counterbalancing and indicating the weight of said articles, and means comprising` a fluid counterbalancing device for "re-setting said loadcounterbalancing and indicating 'mechanism to an initial position aiter each individual weighing.

S. ln a weighing scale, in combination, a commodity-receiver for receiving articles to be weighed. automatic means for counterbalancing` and indicating` the weight or said articles, means comprising a fluid counterbalancing device for 11e-setting said loadcounterbalar-.cing` and indicating mechanism to an initial position after each individual weighing, and means for bringing the indicating means into position to indicate the total weight of said articles after a number of individual weighings have been effected.

9. In a device of the class described, in combinacion, automatic weighing mechanism including lever mechanism, and fluid means for re-settinp,` said lever mechanism to an initial position after weighings have been completed.

lO. In a device of the class described, in combination, weighing mechanism including automatic load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism, means for re-setting said load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism to an initial position comprising a fluid, a tube through which said fluid may flow, and means for cutting off the flow of said fluid from said tube when said loadcounterbalancing and indicating mechanism has reached the initial position.

ll. In device of the class described, in combination, weighing' mechanism including automatic load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism, means 'for re-setting the load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism to a predetermined position comprising a receptacle connected to said mechanism, a. fluid adapted to flow into said receptacle, and means actuated by said loadco'.mterbalancing` and indicating mechanism restricting the flow of said fluid when said mechanism has reachec its predetermined position.

l2. ln a device of the class described, in combination, weighing mechanism including automatic load-counterbalancing and indieating` mechanism, means .for re-setting the load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism to a. predetermined position comprising a receptacle connected to said mechanism, a fluid adapted to flow into said receptacle, electrically actuated means tor cutting off the flow of said fluid, and means whereby said cutting oft' means actuated when said load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism has reached Va predetermined position.

13. ln a device of t-he class described, in combination, weighing` mechanism including automatic load-counterbalancing and indi-A eating mechanism. means :for '1e-setting the load-counterbalancing and indicating` mechanism to a predetern'iined position comprising receptacle connected to said mechanism, a fluid adapted to flow into said receptacle, means whereby the flow of said fluid is partially restricted as said loadcounterbalancing' and indicating mechanism approaches a "-,iredetermined position, and means whereby the flow oit' said fluid is cnt ofl' as said mechanism reaches the predetermined position.

ll. ln a device ot' the class described, in combination, weighing mechanism includingl automatic load-counterbaiancing and indieating mechanism, means 'for re-se-cing the load-counterbalancing and indicating mechanism to a predetermined position comprising a receptacle connected to said mechanism, a fluid adapted to flow into said rcceptacle, means whereby the flow of said fluid is partially restricted as said loadcounterbalancing and indicating" mechanism approaches a predetermined portion, means whereby the flow of said fluid cut off as said meel anism reaches the pi'mleterinined position, and means 'for en'ipfying said fluid receiving` receptacle.

l5. ln a device oit the described, i. combination, automatic weighing mechanism including indicatingi mechani 1. a resetting` device for said indicatoiI includinga receptacle, a iluid adapted to flow into said receptacle, and means actuated by movement of the indicator hand to restrict the flow of said. fluid when said indicator has reached a predetermined position.

l ARENCE H. HAP@ )01). 

